Soft close hinge assembly

Abstract

A hinge assembly includes a lever arm and a channel connected to the lever arm. The channel is adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door. A control link is pivotally connected to the lever arm. A slide body includes an inner end connected to the control link. The slide body is adapted for sliding movement in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first (door-closed) position and a second (door-opened) position. A spring resiliently biases the channel toward the first position. A snubber system includes at least one snubber with a piston that is biased to an extended position and moveable to a retracted position against a fluid or other damping resistance during movement of the slide body away when the channel moves from the first position to the second position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A hinge assembly for an appliance, said hinge assembly comprising:
 a lever arm adapted to be engaged with a mounting receptacle of an associated appliance body; 
 a channel pivotally connected to the lever arm at a first pivot point, the channel adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door; 
 a control link comprising inner and outer ends, the inner end of the control link pivotally connected to the lever arm; 
 a slide body located adjacent the channel and comprising an inner end connected to the outer end of the control link, the slide body adapted for reciprocal sliding movement relative to the channel toward and away from the first pivot point in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first position and a second position; 
 a spring operably located between the slide body and the channel and resiliently biasing the channel toward the first position; 
 a snubber system connected to the channel in a location where the slide body is located between the snubber system and the first pivot point, the snubber system comprising at least one snubber comprising a piston that is biased to an extended position and selectively moveable to a retracted position against a damping resistance; 
 wherein the slide body contacts the snubber system during movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point when the channel moves from the second position toward the first position and the slide body causes movement of the snubber piston from its extended position to its retracted position such that the snubber system damps movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point and damps movement of the channel toward the first position; 
 wherein said slide body is located between first and second side walls of the channel and includes at least one elongated slot, said hinge assembly comprising a slide pin that extends between the first and second side walls of the channel and through the at least one elongated slot of the slide body; and, 
 wherein the spring includes an outer end connected to the slide pin and includes an inner end connected to at least one of the slide body and control link. 
 
     
     
       2. The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the inner end of the slide body is connected to the outer end of the control link by a slide body fastener, and wherein the inner end of the spring is engaged with the slide body fastener. 
     
     
       3. A hinge assembly for an appliance, said hinge assembly comprising:
 a lever arm adapted to be engaged with a mounting receptacle of an associated appliance body; 
 a channel pivotally connected to the lever arm at a first pivot point, the channel adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door; 
 a control link comprising inner and outer ends, the inner end of the control link pivotally connected to the lever arm; 
 a slide body located adjacent the channel and comprising an inner end connected to the outer end of the control link, the slide body adapted for reciprocal sliding movement relative to the channel toward and away from the first pivot point in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first position and a second position; 
 a spring operably located between the slide body and the channel and resiliently biasing the channel toward the first position; 
 a snubber system connected to the channel in a location where the slide body is located between the snubber system and the first pivot point, the snubber system comprising at least one snubber comprising a piston that is biased to an extended position and selectively moveable to a retracted position against a damping resistance; 
 wherein the slide body contacts the snubber system during movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point when the channel moves from the second position toward the first position and the slide body causes movement of the snubber piston from its extended position to its retracted position such that the snubber system damps movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point and damps movement of the channel toward the first position; 
 said hinge assembly further comprising a control follower supported between first and second side walls of the channel, wherein said control link comprises an elongated contoured slot, and wherein said control follower is located in said elongated contoured slot. 
 
     
     
       4. A hinge assembly for an appliance, said hinge assembly comprising:
 a lever arm adapted to be engaged with a mounting receptacle of an associated appliance body; 
 a channel pivotally connected to the lever arm at a first pivot point, the channel adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door; 
 a control link comprising inner and outer ends, the inner end of the control link pivotally connected to the lever arm; 
 a slide body located adjacent the channel and comprising an inner end connected to the outer end of the control link, the slide body adapted for reciprocal sliding movement relative to the channel toward and away from the first pivot point in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first position and a second position; 
 a spring operably located between the slide body and the channel and resiliently biasing the channel toward the first position; 
 a snubber system connected to the channel in a location where the slide body is located between the snubber system and the first pivot point, the snubber system comprising at least one snubber comprising a piston that is biased to an extended position and selectively moveable to a retracted position against a damping resistance; 
 wherein the slide body contacts the snubber system during movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point when the channel moves from the second position toward the first position and the slide body causes movement of the snubber piston from its extended position to its retracted position such that the snubber system damps movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point and damps movement of the channel toward the first position; and, 
 wherein the slide body is separated from the snubber system when the channel is moved fully to the second position, the slide body contacts the snubber system when the channel is located in an intermediate position located between the first and second positions, and the slide body maintains continuous contact with the snubber system between the intermediate position and the first position. 
 
     
     
       5. The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the snubber system comprises a base that supports the at least one snubber, the at least one snubber comprising a piston rod connected to the piston and projecting outwardly from the base toward the first pivot point, wherein the slide body contacts the piston rod for all locations of the channel between and including the intermediate position and said first position. 
     
     
       6. The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein the snubber system comprises a base that supports the at least one snubber, wherein the base is slidably connected to the channel and movable toward and away from the first pivot point, the at least one snubber comprising a piston rod connected to the piston and projecting outwardly from the base away from the first pivot point, wherein the slide body contacts at least one of the base and the snubber for all locations of the channel between and including the intermediate position and the first position and the slide body urges the snubber base away from the first pivot point when the channel moves from the intermediate position toward the first position. 
     
     
       7. A hinge assembly for an appliance, said hinge assembly comprising:
 a lever arm adapted to be engaged with a mounting receptacle of an associated appliance body; 
 a channel pivotally connected to the lever arm at a first pivot point, the channel adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door; 
 a control link comprising inner and outer ends, the inner end of the control link pivotally connected to the lever arm; 
 a slide body located adjacent the channel and comprising an inner end connected to the outer end of the control link, the slide body adapted for reciprocal sliding movement relative to the channel toward and away from the first pivot point in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first position and a second position; 
 a spring operably located between the slide body and the channel and resiliently biasing the channel toward the first position; 
 a snubber system connected to the channel in a location where the slide body is located between the snubber system and the first pivot point, the snubber system comprising at least one snubber comprising a piston that is biased to an extended position and selectively moveable to a retracted position against a damping resistance; 
 wherein the slide body contacts the snubber system during movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point when the channel moves from the second position toward the first position and the slide body causes movement of the snubber piston from its extended position to its retracted position such that the snubber system damps movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point and damps movement of the channel toward the first position; and, 
 wherein said snubber system comprises first and second snubbers each comprising a piston that is biased to an extended position and selectively moveable to a retracted position against a damping resistance. 
 
     
     
       8. The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein said slide body comprises a spring rod and said spring comprises a helical coil spring through which said spring rod extends, wherein said spring is operatively positioned between said channel and said spring rod and biases said spring rod away from said first pivot point. 
     
     
       9. The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a connector link comprising inner and outer ends, said inner end of said connector link pivotally connected to the outer end of the control link and the outer end of the connector link pivotally connected to the spring rod. 
     
     
       10. The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein said spring rod is located between first and second side walls of the channel, wherein said first and second channel side walls comprise respective elongated slots, said hinge assembly comprising a slide member located in said elongated slots and engaged with said spring rod. 
     
     
       11. A hinge assembly for an appliance, said hinge assembly comprising:
 a lever arm adapted to be engaged with a mounting receptacle of an associated appliance body; 
 a channel pivotally connected to the lever arm at a first pivot point, the channel adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door; 
 a control link comprising inner and outer ends, the inner end of the control link pivotally connected to the lever arm; 
 a slide body located adjacent the channel and comprising an inner end connected to the outer end of the control link, the slide body adapted for reciprocal sliding movement relative to the channel toward and away from the first pivot point in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first position and a second position; 
 a spring operably located between the slide body and the channel and resiliently biasing the channel toward the first position; 
 a snubber system connected to the channel in a location where the slide body is located between the snubber system and the first pivot point, the snubber system comprising at least one snubber comprising a piston that is biased to an extended position and selectively moveable to a retracted position against a damping resistance; 
 wherein the slide body contacts the snubber system during movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point when the channel moves from the second position toward the first position and the slide body causes movement of the snubber piston from its extended position to its retracted position such that the snubber system damps movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point and damps movement of the channel toward the first position; and, 
 wherein said at least one snubber of said snubber system comprises at least one of a hydraulic fluid cylinder, a gas or pneumatic cylinder, a mechanical spring damper. 
 
     
     
       12. A hinge assembly for an appliance, said hinge assembly comprising:
 a lever arm adapted to be engaged with a mounting receptacle of an associated appliance body; 
 a channel pivotally connected to the lever arm at a first pivot point, the channel adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door; 
 a control link comprising inner and outer ends, the inner end of the control link pivotally connected to the lever arm; 
 a slide body located adjacent the channel and comprising an inner end connected to the outer end of the control link, the slide body adapted for reciprocal sliding movement relative to the channel toward and away from the first pivot point in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first position and a second position; 
 a spring operably located between the slide body and the channel and resiliently biasing the channel toward the first position; 
 a snubber system connected to the channel in a location where the slide body is located between the snubber system and the first pivot point, the snubber system comprising at least one snubber comprising a piston that is biased to an extended position and selectively moveable to a retracted position against a damping resistance; 
 wherein the slide body contacts the snubber system during movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point when the channel moves from the second position toward the first position and the slide body causes movement of the snubber piston from its extended position to its retracted position such that the snubber system damps movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point and damps movement of the channel toward the first position; and, 
 wherein said at least one snubber is configured to provide more damping resistance during movement of the piston from its extended position toward its retracted position as compared to movement of the piston from its retracted position toward its extended position. 
 
     
     
       13. A hinge assembly for an appliance, said hinge assembly comprising:
 a lever arm adapted to be engaged with a mounting receptacle of an associated appliance body; 
 a channel pivotally connected to the lever arm at a first pivot point, the channel adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door, said channel comprising a stop; 
 a control link comprising inner and outer ends, the inner end of the control link pivotally connected to the lever arm; 
 a slide body located adjacent the channel and comprising an inner end connected to the outer end of the control link, the slide body adapted for reciprocal sliding movement relative to the channel toward and away from the first pivot point in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first position and a second position; 
 a spring operably located between the slide body and the channel and resiliently biasing the channel toward the first position; 
 a snubber system connected to the slide body, the snubber system comprising at least one snubber comprising a piston that is biased to an extended position and selectively moveable to a retracted position against a damping resistance; 
 wherein the slide body and the snubber system move away from the first pivot point when the channel moves from the second position toward the first position, and the snubber system contacts the stop when the channel is located in an intermediate position located between the second position and the first position and movement of the channel from the intermediate position toward the first position causes movement of the snubber piston from its extended position to its retracted position such that the snubber system damps movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point and damps movement of the channel toward the first position; and, 
 wherein said channel comprises first and second spaced-apart side walls, and wherein the snubber system comprises:
 a snubber base located between the first and second side walls of the channel and supporting said at least one snubber, said snubber base comprising an elongated slot; 
 a guide fastener connected to and extending between the first and second side walls of the channel and extending through the elongated slot of the snubber base to slidably capture the snubber base to the channel. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said snubber base is fixedly secured to said slide body by a mounting fastener, and wherein said at least one snubber comprises:
 a snubber body slidably supported by the snubber base and defining a bore in which said piston is slidably supported, said snubber body projecting outwardly from said snubber base; 
 a piston rod connected to the piston and projecting outwardly from said bore toward said first pivot point, said piston rod in contact with said mounting fastener; 
 wherein said snubber body contacts said stop and is moved toward said first pivot point and said piston is moved toward its retracted position upon movement of said channel from said intermediate position toward said first position. 
 
     
     
       15. A hinge assembly for an appliance, said hinge assembly comprising:
 a lever arm adapted to be engaged with a mounting receptacle of an associated appliance body; 
 a channel pivotally connected to the lever arm at a first pivot point, the channel adapted to be connected to an associated appliance door; 
 a control link comprising inner and outer ends, the inner end of the control link pivotally connected to the lever arm; 
 a slide body located adjacent the channel and operatively connected to the control link, the slide body adapted for reciprocal movement relative to the channel toward and away from the first pivot point in response to pivoting movement of the channel relative to the lever arm between a first position and a second position; 
 a spring operatively engaged between the channel and the control link and resiliently biasing the channel toward the first position; 
 a damper connected to the channel at a location where the slide body is located between the damper and the first pivot point, the damper comprising: (i) a damper body including a bore; (ii) a piston slidably located in the bore; and, (iii) a rod connected to the piston and extending outwardly away from the damper body, said piston biased to an extended position and selectively moveable to a retracted position against a damping resistance; 
 wherein the slide body contacts the damper during movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point when the channel moves from the second position toward the first position and the slide body causes movement of the piston from its extended position to its retracted position against said damping resistance such that the damper cushions movement of the slide body away from the first pivot point and cushions movement of the channel toward the first position; 
 said inner end of said slide body operatively connected to the outer end of the control link by a connector link; and, 
 said slide body captured adjacent said channel such that said slide body moves relative to said channel in a linear reciprocal manner when said channel is pivoted between the first and second positions. 
 
     
     
       16. The hinge assembly as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising at least one slide fastener connected to said channel, wherein said at least one slide fastener captures said slide body adjacent a wall of said channel.